Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

Social Justice Ireland, hardly the most militant or revolutionary group in the country, made the point this morning at the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education that any cut in child benefit would be a red line issue for it and that if the Government thought that it could get away with replacing the idea of a €10 cut in child benefit with one of €5, then it would not happen. The removal of 1 cent from child benefit will not be tolerated.

I was sickened to listen to representatives from the Government and other quarters saying child benefit is paid to rich people, therefore we need to examine it. It is nonsense. No rich person will feel the pinch from a cut in child benefit. People on lower incomes and social welfare families will pay the price.

We were all circulated with a report from the European Anti Poverty Network. It revealed figures from the CSO which show that those at risk of poverty had increased to almost 16% of the population and the policies being implemented by the Government are contributing to the growth of that group in society. Increasing VAT, introducing a household tax and butchering social welfare will affect the most vulnerable.

The purpose of the motion is to say "Stop" before it is too late. The Labour Party should listen. It has some neck to talk about rich people receiving child benefit when the Government has tolerated a situation where the gap between rich and poor has become greater. If a 1% tax on the top 5% of the population was introduced revenue of €2 billion could be generated, almost three times the amount to be cut in social welfare, which will cause enormous hardship to ordinary families and children. There is no excuse for it. There is a choice. The Government cannot blame Fianna Fáil and should abandon the policy before it is too late.

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